Summer Grand Canyon Hiking Tips

By: Arizona Office of Tourism

Heading out for a hike in the Grand Canyon? Before you go, read our tips for a safe - and fun - trek.

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Arizona Office of Tourism

These articles are brought to you by the staff of the Arizona Office of Tourism, and occasionally local tourism organizations around the state.

Hiking in the Grand Canyon during the summer months presents unique hazards: the result of extreme heat and some of the steepest and most rugged terrain on earth. Every year, scores of unprepared hikers lured by what seemed like an easy downhill hike, experience severe illness, injury and death from hiking in the Grand Canyon.

For both public and employee safety, the National Park Service urges SPECIAL CAUTION for all hikers during the summer months. Below are tips on how to hike smart in the Grand Canyon.

Hiking smart in the Grand Canyon

Avoid hiking in the hottest part of the day. When inner Grand Canyon temperatures are extremely high, access to inner Grand Canyon trails may be restricted to early morning and evening. Information on trail restrictions and trail closures is available at (928) 638-7888 (press 1-3-1).

Efforts to assist you may be delayed during the summer due to

limited staff

number of rescue calls

employee safety requirements

and limited helicopter flying capability during periods of extreme heat.

Do not rely on physical strength alone; hiking smart will take you much farther.

10 Grand Canyon hiking essentials

Water – plain and some with electrolyte replacement.

Food – especially salty foods. Eat twice as much as normal.

First Aid Kit – Band-Aids, ace wrap, antiseptic, moleskin, etc.

Map – while many trails are well marked, maps are helpful tools.

Pack – to carry the essentials.

Flashlight/Spare Batteries – allows you to hike out during the cool of the evening.

Spray Bottle – fill with water for your own personal air-conditioning system.

Hat/Sunscreen – to keep the sun off you and protect your skin.

Whistle and/or Signal Mirror – for emergency use.

Waterproof Clothing – poncho or jacket; especially useful during monsoon season (mid-July to early September).

Tips for safe hiking

1. Drink and eat often – you need it

Keep an eye out for salt rings on your clothes. Because inner Grand Canyon air is so hot and dry, sweat evaporates instantly, making its loss imperceptible. For every hour you walk in the heat, you could be losing one-half to one quart of fluid -- more if you are hiking uphill, in direct sunlight, at the hottest time of the day.

Do not wait until you are feeling thirsty to start replacing fluids and electrolytes. By the time you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated. The more dehydrated you become, the less efficient your body is at cooling making hiking more difficult.

Drink one-half to one quart of fluid every hour that you are hiking in the heat. Carry a water bottle in your hand and drink small amounts often. Alternate between water and a sports drink with electrolytes.

Balance your food intake with fluid consumption, or else you run the risk of becoming dangerously debilitated and severely ill. Food is your body's primary source of fuel and salts (electrolytes) while hiking in the Grand Canyon. Eat a salty snack every time you take a drink.

2. Wait for the shade - avoid hiking between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.!

Even if you are eating and drinking correctly you still need to avoid hiking in direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day. And keep in mind, the farther into the canyon you go, the hotter it gets!

Take a break near shade and water to avoid the worst heat of the day. Enjoy a predawn start and a late afternoon finish. Experienced desert hikers know that the timing of their hike is the most important factor in avoiding hazards.

3. Stay wet and stay cool – soak yourself with water

This is one of the best things that you can do for yourself; it will help decrease your core body temperature. Whenever you are near water, make sure that you wet (actually soak) yourself down. If you hike while soaking wet you will stay reasonably cool.

4. Watch out for health hazards – know the 4 H’s

During the summer season when inner Grand Canyon temperatures routinely exceed 100F (40C), dehydration is common and can lead to heat exhaustion. More serious illnesses associated with desert hiking are heat exhaustion, hyponatremia, heatstroke and hypothermia, known as the hazardous H’s.

Treatment: The heatstroke victim must be cooled immediately! Continuously pour water on the victim's head and torso, fan to create an evaporative cooling effect. Immerse the victim in cold water if possible. Move the victim to shade and remove excess clothing. The victim needs evacuation to a hospital. Someone should go for help while attempts to cool the victim continue.

Hyponatremia (water intoxication) is an illness that mimics the early symptoms of heat exhaustion. It is the result of low sodium in the blood caused by drinking too much water and losing too much salt through sweating.

Hypothermia is a life-threatening emergency where the body cannot keep itself warm, due to exhaustion and exposure to cold, wet, windy weather. Avoid hypothermia by checking at the Grand Canyon View Information Plaza or the Backcountry Information Center for the latest weather and trail conditions, taking layered clothing for protection against cold and wet weather, eating frequently, replacing fluids and electrolytes by drinking before feeling thirsty, and avoiding exposure to wet weather.

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